Killer's children say he was strict, not abusive

Updated 11:01 pm, Monday, June 25, 2012

Raul Rodriguez addresses his law staff during his trial at Harris County Criminal Courthouse on Monday in Houston. Court resumes Tuesday.

Raul Rodriguez addresses his law staff during his trial at Harris County Criminal Courthouse on Monday in Houston. Court resumes Tuesday.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

Killer's children say he was strict, not abusive

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The children testified Monday that their father, a convicted murderer described as a neighborhood bully, was a stern disciplinarian but never abused them.

That's not the image portrayed by neighbors, who say they saw Raul Rodriguez act rough with his sons. One neighbor testified seeing Rodriguez fighting his then 20-year-old son on the front porch of their trailer house in 2008 in rural northeast Harris County.

"He was strict, but not abusive," said James Coleman, 20, one of Rodriguez's stepsons.

Rodriguez was convicted earlier this month of killing Kelly Danaher, a neighbor who was having a loud party in Huffman. Jurors could sentence him to life in prison.

Rodriguez videotaped his encounter with Danaher and a group of his friends just after midnight on May 2, 2010.

The 22-minute video shows Rodriguez confronting Danaher and his guests about a birthday party. Rodriguez tells the men he is in fear for his life and is standing his ground.

The recording ends with a gunshot after, apparently, Danaher and two other men charged Rodriguez on the road next to Danaher's driveway.

Jurors rejected Rodriguez's claims that he was acting in self-defense and convicted the 47-year-old on June 13. After the verdict, jurors heard about Rodriguez's past, including several run-ins with his neighbors.

After hearing several negative accounts about Rodriguez, including allegations of child abuse and animal cruelty, the jury took a week break because of a scheduling conflict.

Back in court Monday, Rodriguez's 24-year-old son testified he started the fight with his dad.

"I really wanted to kick my father's ass," Richard Rodriguez told jurors. "I'm the one who took the first punch."

He blamed himself for instigating the fight and said his friends were poisoning him against his family.

Three other of Rodriguez's five children also testified their father was strict, but a good parent.

"He was never abusive. He would always watch over us," a 16-year-old stepson said.

Raul Rodriguez faces five years to life in prison for murder. The trial is expected to continue Tuesday in state District Judge David Mendoza's court.

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